In 1989, on a trip to Nocona, Texas, I visited and met for the first time Dura (Vowell) McCool, Ford adn Mamie Nelson, Lura (Nelson) Sewell, Wanda Gayle (Nelson) Reed and Auda (Vowell) Bourland, on a day that I will never forget.  That is another story, but worth telling.  While visiting, they provided copies of many letters that had been handed down to them.  The following letter was old and had been worn away in some areas.  Also, it seems that there should have been at least one more page, but it was never found.
 

Page #1
Buford Tex - June 5, 1910

Mrs Laura Nelson Nocona Tex

Dear sister, we recieved your letter yesterday.  Was glad to hear that you was all well.  this leaves us all well and doing as well as comon.  Bills folks is all well.  i seen bill yester in town.  Their Pa is in colarado.  Well Laura i will try ans your questions.  T.J. adn s r and Josie and Nevia Higgins is in F.T. Worth.  Their ad is 700 La Av F.T. Worth Tex.  i dont hear from them very often.  seen all of them last summer.  Marthas children is at Pecos Tex which is
 

Page #2

a bout two hundred ms up this rr west.  They rite me tolerble often.  They are all ver brite children.  Hughes is a good ????? and i recon he is doing very well.  Yes i fixed all the graves but Daddys and though i had it fixed good enough with them cedars i bought.  sawed Baysdarce (????) and put at the Head and feet of all them but his.  the grave yard is well kept but if i ever get

Page #3

able and you will want to we will puit a Monument to Daddys grave but i am at a low ebb at this time.  Working on the halfs??? and no help but Dewey just 12 years of age.  Laura i had got some of Daddys clothes and other little trick that i didnt no he had until ???? as i am moving around.  if you want them i will send them to you.  yes i had some pictures that i mite have sent you

Page #4

one but ???????? them off wil????er   W????? my concent adn i havent went after them.  She take all the pictures that i had.  Did you expect me to keep your and finleys pictures or let my children take a way from me.  Mintie onley lives a bout a mile and a half from us but i havent been to see her yet.  Mintie treated me myty shabby when she married but i will send you a picture of a more late

There were no doubt additional pages to this letter, but they were never found.

Notes on page 1: We are not sure who T.J. and S.R. are, or Josie and Nevia Higgins. John's sister Martha married Marcus Higgins, so may be one of their children.

Page 2: Hughes is no doubt the husband of John's daughter Martha.

Page 3: Dewey is John's son Arthur Dewey Harvey, b. 1898.

Page 4: Mintie is no doubt his daughter Arminta "Mintie" Harvey who married Clem McClure.


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